The MPPA Board of Commissioners is eager to announce Anna Steenwyk, a sophomore at Michigan Technological University, as the 2026 Janet & Richard Gorman Scholarship recipient. She will receive $2,500 to put toward the 2026/2027 academic year. This year’s applicants were all high-achieving and engaged students, making the selection process competitive. However, Anna’s profile stood out among the many submissions.
Anna spent this summer as an engineering intern with the Electric Distribution team at the Holland Board of Public Works, where her father, Timothy Steenwyk, works as a systems operation technician. Her role focused on design and planning. Anna drafted projects, work orders, and prints that line crews and contractors used to replace utility poles, transformers, and other equipment in the field. She also helped improve the accuracy of the utility’s records in the National Joint Utilities Notification System (NJUNS), which organizes information about utility poles, communication lines, and other equipment attached to them.
“My internship has shown me how much work goes into maintaining and improving an electric distribution system, and how much different utilities must work together to keep it reliable,” Anna said. “This scholarship helps me get the knowledge I need to build a career in the electric power industry. I would love to help keep Michigan powered with my career, following in my dad’s footsteps.”
Investing in students like Anna through the Janet & Richard Gorman Scholarship is one of the most rewarding things we do. Congratulations, Anna!
RECENT WINNERS
2024 – 2025 Caden Bruinsma – His father, Steve Bruinsma, is employed with the Holland Board of Public Works. Mr. Bruinsma was a Senior at Grand Valley State University, seeking a degree in Electrical Engineering.
2023 – 2024 Breckin Prichard – His father, Will Prichard, is employed with the City of Sturgis. Mr. Prichard was a Sophomore at Central Michigan University, seeking a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
2022 – 2023 Suhaimi Fariz Azam – His father, Shafiul Azam, is employed by the Lansing Board of Water & Light. Mr. Fariz Azam was a Senior at Michigan State University, seeking a degree in Electrical Engineering.
2020 – 2021 Sophia Louden – Her mother, Cheryl Louden, is employed with Lansing Board of Water & Light. Ms. Louden was a Senior at Western Michigan University, seeking a degree in Chemical Engineering.